(Lincoln, Neb.)- The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) in conjunction with the Thayer County Healthy Communities Coalition, conducted compliance checks at 11 retail outlets.

During the checks conducted Saturday, June 2, five businesses in Thayer County were found to be non-compliant after selling alcohol to minors, for a non-compliant rate of 45%.  The retail outlets checked during the collaborative effort included convenience, liquor, and grocery stores as well as restaurants and bars.

Compliance checks are conducted to help communities determine the extent of the problem of alcohol sales as a source of youth access to alcohol. Local law enforcement conducts compliance checks to ensure that businesses are in compliance with the state’s youth alcohol laws.

Media requests for additional information may be made to Sgt. Martin Costello, Headquarters Troop-Lincoln, at (402) 471-4545 during regular business hours.

YORK, Neb. (AP) — YORK – A convicted sex offender has made a plea deal and admitted to attempted sexual assault of a 15-year-old.

Local media reports that Jason Morehead, of York, also pleaded no contest to illegally possessing prescription drugs.

As part of the plea agreement, the misdemeanor procuring charge was dropped and the sexual assault charge was lowered to attempted first-degree sexual assault.

Sentencing on both charges is scheduled for Aug. 6.

Morehead is a registered sex offender with a 25-year reporting requirement. He was convicted of first-degree false imprisonment of a minor in June 2005, in Seward County.

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GERING, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 45-year-old Gering man was arrested after a vehicle chase that ended with a gunshot and a struggle with officers.

Bail has been set at $250,000 for Tad Shelly, who faces several charges.

The chase began around 10 p.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 26 between Scottsbluff and Minatare when a Scotts Bluff county deputy attempted to pull over a suspected drunken driver in a pickup.

The truck stopped just east of Minatare. Officials say the pickup driver then drove backward into the deputy’s car, and the deputy fired his handgun and hit the front tire on the driver’s side.

Other officers soon arrived to help take Shelly into custody.

A jailer said Shelly remained in custody on Wednesday. Online court records don’t list the case yet.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The dean of journalism school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is leaving the post for a new challenge at the university.

Gary Kebbel has been on the job less than two years.

The local media says Kebbel will be leading a universitywide mobile media initiative. Kebbel will work with faculty, students and staffers from around the campus and may be involved with opportunities at Innovation Campus.

Jim O’Hanlon will be interim dean of the Journalism College.

Kebbel joined UNL in July 2010 after working as journalism program director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.